William e



UNITE SrATns VILLIAM E. DARRAH, OF MIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK.

CLASP FOR SHOE-LACINGS.

specification forxning part of Letters Patent No. 44,2%6. datcd September 20, 1864.

To all whom tt may conce'n Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. DARRAH, of Middletown, in the county of Orange and State of New York, have in vented a new and Improved Olasp for Lacings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Fignre l represents a perspective view of my invention as applied to a shoe. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same before fastening the lacings. Fig. 3 is a plan or top view of the same after securing the lacings. Fig. 4 is an inside elevationof the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The object of this invention is a clasp produced by folding over a piece ofsheet metal in such a manner that two plates or jaws are formed with a suitable opening to let the strings ofa shoe or lacing of any other description pass freely, and to retain the ends of said strings or lacings when the same are drawn sidewise between the two plates or jaws.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents a clasp, made of sheet metal, cut out in the proper form and bent over double, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. By these means two plates orjaws, a b, are formed, the loose edges of which are connected by turning the edge of the outer plate, a, over that of the inner plate, b. The inner plate, before bendin g, is provided with a semiciroular protuberance, so as to form a channel, c, large enough to allow of passin g the strings d freely through between the .two plates after the clasp is ready. After the clasp has thus been formed it is curved to correspond to the surface on which it is to be used, and by curving the two plates a b receive sufficient elasticity to clamp nrmly the ends of the cords or lacings, if the same are drawn in between them, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawlngs.

In order to apply my clasp to a shoe, I lace the same up in the nsual manner and pass the ends of the strings through the channel o, and by spreading the ends and pulling in opposite directions the clasp is forced down close to the shoe, and the ends of the string or strings are firmly clamped between the two plates a b.

If it is desiredto unlace the shoe, the two ends of the string or strings are taken in one hand and pulled up together in the direction of the opening or channel c. By this strain the strings are drawn out from between the plates a b, and the clasp can now be freely moved up to the ends of the string, thus giving a chance to unlace the shoe.

It is obvious that a clasp of this kind can be applied to lacings of any description, and by their use the tying of the strings or lacings into a knot can be dispensed with, and the operation ot' fastening, and particularly that of uni'astening, the lacing'is considerably facilitated.

I am aware that Letters Patent were granted on the 24th of January, 1860, to L. J. Worden, for a lacing-clasp Operating on the same general principle as mine. This, therefore, I do not claim.

The snperiority of my invention consists in the use of separate or double string-plates, disconnected at the outer Corners, so as to adapt the strings to be drawn completely over the edges between the said plates. They are thus more firmly held, renderedless liable to accidental (Tetachment, and still may be secured and released with greater facilitywhen desired. I

Havingthusdescribed my invention,Iclai1n and desire to secure by Letters Patent, as an improved article of manufacture- A clasp for lacings, made in one piece, but with double string-plates a b, disconnected at the outer oorners, and central channel, c, all as herein shown and 'descrbed VV. E. DARRAH.

Vitnesses:

D. RoBERTsoN, GEO. W. REED. 

